Reflection and Focus - Improving Instruction

A recent article in ISTE’s April 2015 edition of their journal Entrsekt, shares a parable about preparation.  It is the story of a lumberjack who gets diminishing returns despite his best effort over the course of three days.  After apologizing to his boss, the boss asks him: When was the last time you sharpened your ax? The article is about teacher preparation.  The article concludes with a quote from Abraham Lincoln who said about preparation: “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my ax.” (Douglas, 2015 http://tinyurl.com/l66tvls).  With competing initiatives from federal, state, and local authorities, too often educators get bogged down in trying to meet these mandates rather than regularly sharpening their ax.  This is why it is so important for educational leaders to help their schools find the time to focus on improving instruction through professional development, peer observations, and the regular sharing of best practices. Teachers also need to be encouraged to take risks by trying out new things.  Also crucial is time for regular reflection. In September, we will kick off the school year with a visit from Dave Burgess.  He will bring his high-energy to the island to fire up our educators with his Teach Like A Pirate strategies.  The true work begins after the pirate leaves the island.  In order to sustain the burst of energy that will no doubt be injected into our school, we must be vigilant and determined to take full advantage of the time we do have to sharpen our collective ax.